I'd just like something to putt around in the desert, more for "technical" trails than jumping hills. I come from a Suzuki rockcrawling (90:1 reduction in first gear) background, so I know/understand the value of gears to push around tall tires with a small engine.

I'm not 100% new to VW's, I built a 1835 sand rail with my father as a kid.

Personally, I've taught Highschool Biology, and I'm currently looking for a job either with Game & Fish or some sort of municipal water treatment facility- I'm finishing up a Master's degree as we speak. In addition to offroad vehicles, I like to fish, and I also enjoy late 60's/early 70's "muscle" cars. I've been building a 1970 Maverick for the past three years (it's been slow going from competition over time with the Master's degree). I have a blog for the build here: www.70maverick.blogspot.com

I've been lurking on the site here for about a month now, and I finally registered tonight.

Last edited by Tyler on Thu Jul 04, 2013 07:18 AM; edited 1 times in total

To be honest, 90:1 (first gear) was seldom used. Having four wheel drive was a more important factor anyways. Overall, I used 2nd and 3rd gear MUCH more than first. 3rd in a Samurai netted me 34:1 reduction. From what I've found online, a stock Type 1 transaxle with bus reduction boxes would be right around 32:1... which should be more than enough.

The stock low ratio in a Samurai is 31:1, and that is PLENTY low for 235/75R15's (I had experience on that combo for ~1 year).

Welcome to the site! I dont have reduction boxes on my baja and i go out with a '98 Expedition 4x4, '11 Tacoma 4x4, and '11 Wrangler 4x4 and do just fine with a 1776 and stock suspension. Not exactly crawling, but Bugs will surprise you with just how well they do out there

I drove a V6 Toyota with lockers and a Martin doubler that was fun/ easy to drive. As long as the tires could get traction it did not stop.

My ratio is 3.78 x 5.36 about 20.26 which is about the same with the more common reduction boxes 3.78 x 4.37 x 1.25 is 20.64. If your lucky enough to find find 1.68 redux gears 3.78 x 4.37 x 1.68 then it is about 27.75 which would be really nice for tight terrain.

You could really score finding one of the old race 4.22 first gear, an old Richmond 4.88 RP and 1.68 gears; 3.78x 4.22 x 1.68 for 34.56.

I have been in many places where I wish I could go a third as fast as what I was going.

I have also seen custom VW double and triple reduction box set ups.
The triples were on a show Baja from Mexico with 48" mudders.

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